Justice and Peace

Summary

The sources of conflict in Africa are linked by a number of common themes and experiences. According to the UN Commission on Human Security (2003), causes of internal conflict include:

competition over land and resources

sudden and deep political or economic transitions

growing inequity among people and communities

increasing crime, corruption and illegal activities

weak and unstable political regimes and institutions

identity politics and historical legacies, such as colonialism

While these are different causes of conflict, there is a common human root to them all—the notion that violence is an acceptable behavior. Peace is elusive if there is not justice in a society. The pursuit of just solutions often requires concessions on the part of all parties, whether within a family, community, country, or region. Compromising is more difficult when there is as much poverty and resource scarcity as there currently is in Africa.

Main Idea

Build social institutions that do not use violence to address needs

Key Concepts

Social justice

Resource capture

Measuring the cost of civil conflicts

Outcomes

Knowledge of

the freedoms that are essential for human development

the roots of conflict in Africa

Understanding of

the universality of human rights

armed conflict, displaced people, and refugees

the effect of conflict on food production

the economic cost of displaced people

environmental issues as a starting point for regional cooperation

Ability to

explain how an element of popular culture can be used as an instrument of peace-making

Assignment Questions

Interconnections: Justice and Peace & Natural Resources: Summarize an example from the readings of competition for natural resources contributing to conflict. Explain the concept of “resource capture.” What other sources of conflict play a major role in Africa?

Justice and Peace: How do civil conflicts affect human development in the long term?

Interconnections: Justice and Peace & Human Well-Being: Identify some of the key dimensions of human rights. How do the goals of promoting human rights and human development reinforce one another?